Song Young-gil and Kim Yong to Be Allowed to Run in Aug. 17 Convention Despite Candidate Eligibility Dispute

[Financial News] The Supreme Council of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) decided on the 17th to allow Song Young-gil, a lawmaker who declared his bid for the Aug. 17 national convention, and Kim Yong, former deputy head of the Institute for Democracy, to run. Questions had been raised over whether they were ineligible under the party constitution and rules because they had not paid party dues, but the party chose to make an exception.
The party leadership held a Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly that day and passed a resolution recognizing Song and Kim's eligibility to run in the convention.
Earlier, some within the party had argued that Song, who declared his candidacy for party chair, and Kim, who announced a run for the supreme council, were not eligible to compete in the convention. Under the party constitution and rules, voting rights in party office elections are granted to full members, and full members must have joined at least six months before the date of exercising those rights and must have paid party dues at least six times within the year before that date.
However, Song left the party in 2023 over allegations of cash envelope distribution and rejoined on Feb. 27 after being acquitted. As of the candidate registration date on the 16th, he had not yet been back in the party for six months.
Kim was reportedly unable to meet the party dues requirement because his bank accounts were frozen while he was serving a prison sentence after being convicted on appeal. He was accused of taking money and valuables from a private consortium involved in the Daejang-dong development project.
If a "substantial reason" is recognized, the Party Affairs Committee can approve an exception to eligibility after a Supreme Council vote. At an emergency late-night meeting of Supreme Council members on the 16th, no conclusion was reached on their eligibility. The party then approved their candidacies on the 17th.
Meanwhile, the matter of their candidacies is expected to be submitted to the Party Affairs Committee. Regarding their eligibility, former Prime Minister Kim Min-seok said on social networking service, "Their circumstances are exceptional enough for party members to fully understand," adding, "I appeal for their candidacies to be accepted." Former party leader Jung Chung-rae also said on social networking service, "Since the party rules include a relief provision, I hope the party leadership will handle this smoothly," and added, "We are comrades and fellow soldiers who overcame the night of the Dec. 3 martial law insurrection together. Let us move forward together."
haeram@fnnews.com Lee Hae-ram Reporter